Top junior athletes prepare for U20’s Festival
28th August 2013Europe’s top junior triathletes will arrive at the British Triathlon U20’s Festival this weekend to compete in the 2013 Eton Dorney ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup on Saturday 31 August.
The event marks the final countdown before the free-to-view PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London, ensuring a high-quality field will take the opportunity to compete in Great Britain ahead of the ITU Junior Triathlon World Championships on Thursday 12 September.
Britain’s top junior triathletes will also be in action, as the event is a selection race for the junior Great Britain Team in London. Sophie Coldwell is one of 36 British athletes on the start line aiming to secure their place on the GB team.
Talking before the event, Sophie commented: “It’s going to be one of the most important races of the season at Eton Dorney this weekend. I have focussed all of my training to try and secure my place on the Great Britain team in London and hope that everything will come together on race day.
“The event should have a great atmosphere and it will be an awesome experience for those IRC [British Triathlon Inter Regional Championships] athletes, having the opportunity to be part of such a festival event. As a past competitor in the British Triathlon Inter Regional Championships, I hope all the athletes have an enjoyable race and hope they stay around to cheer us on in the European Cup.”
Ian Braid, British Triathlon Director for Major and National Events added: “Eton Dorney is an iconic venue having hosted the Olympic rowing events last year and Human Race has done a great job of organising the festival alongside British Triathlon. Every athlete from the British Triathlon Inter Regional Championship youngsters right through to the elite juniors will enjoy a festival atmosphere that brings together many of our most talented young athletes.”
David Peddie, the European Triathlon Union’s Communications Manager added: “The ETU is fully committed to supporting events for our junior athletes – they are the lifeblood of our sport and it is refreshing to see so many talented youngsters come to the fore in our Junior European Cup series.
“This is the first time an ETU Junior Cup has been held in Britain since 2006, when a certain Jonathan Brownlee finished second in the junior men’s race. A great incentive for our athletes this weekend.
“We are long overdue a visit and the iconic Eton Dorney course is the perfect location for our season’s finale. We thank the LOC and British Triathlon for hosting this race and we look forward to a fantastic festival of triathlon.”
Nick Rusling, CEO of Human Race said: “We are delighted to deliver this event which showcases the best of our young triathlon talent on a European stage. Dorney Lake will be a fantastic setting for some great competitive action from some of our future triathlon stars.”
In addition to the ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup, the event will also host the coveted British Triathlon Inter Regional Championships, which sees the top regional teams from Triathlon England compete against the finest youngsters from Welsh Triathlon and triathlonscotland.
The event will also be the finale to the 2013 British Triathlon Youth and Junior Super Series, ensuring a wealth of British talent will be competing in the iconic Olympic venue of Eton Dorney.